Improvement in trunk-fixtures



2 Sheets-Sheet 2. C. A. TAYLOR. Trunk Fixture. Ng; 196,500. Patented Oct. 23.1877.

l I l 4| l "16 .l l l y IRQ/622501@ i UNITE STATES PATENT Brion.-

^ CHARLES A. TAYLOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN TRUNK-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 196,500, dated October 23,1877; application iiled May 25, 1877. y Y

To all 'whom 'it may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES A. TAYLOR, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunk- Fixtures, which is fully described and claimed in the following specication, reference being had to the accompanyin g drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a trunk containing` my improvement, with the top raised; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, detail views of my improved metallic corner-pieces; Fig. 5, a transverse section taken on the line a: fr, Fig. 1, a portion of the tray being broken away; Fig. o', a plan view of a metallic center band; Fig. 7, detailed views of the pin on the tray, by means of which it is held up by a catch; Fig. 8, a plan view of the pocket-blank; Fig. 10, an edge view of the same; and Fig. 9, a plan view of the pocket-nap.

My invention relates to trinik-iixtures, and is intended to cheapen the construction of the same and make them lighter, while at the same time the necessary strength is retained.

The invention consists in making the metallic corner-pieces, bands, and other outside fixtures of skeleton form, with central and side portions out away, and of Substantially the same thickness.

It also consists in a weighted self-acting hook or catch which engages with a suitable pin or projection on the tray to hold the latter in a raised position.

In the drawings, A represents a trunk, which may be of any ordinary construction. lThe protecting metallic corner-pieces B, instead of being made solid, as heretofore, are made in skeleton form, as shown in the drawings, the edges and a portion of the central part being cut away to reduce the quantity of metal employed, thereby lessening the cost of the lixtures, while at the saine time their peculiar form gives them all the strength required for protection. These fixtures are made of such form as to fit the particular xtures of the trinik to which they are to be applied, the pieces B being constructed to embrace the edges of the trimk where the two sides come together, while the pieces C are fitted to the corners, and the pieces D embrace the strengthening-slats.

This construction of fixtures A is also applied to the center band E, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6 ofthe drawings, and also to the handle-loops F, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and, in fact, to any of the lixtures of the trunk 5 and therefore I do not limit my invention to the particular lixtures mentioned above, or the specified form thereof, shown and described, as the latter may be varied, and still the skeleton construction preserved.

The tray Gr is hinged to the trunk in any suitable manner, and is provided at one end with a pin or projection, H. Ahook or catch, I, is pivoted to the top J, upon the insidethereof. This hook is weighted at the end Opposite the catch, so that when the trunk-lid or top is thrown down it will automatically assume a horizontal position, as in Fig. 5 of the drawings. When the top is raised up, however, the position of the hook will be changed, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, and, if the tray is then raised, the hook will engage the pin H, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings, thereby retaining the tray in its elevated position. When the top and tray are let down, however, the hook will turn into a horizontal position, as described above, thereby diseiigaging itself from the pin and releasing theA tray, so that when the top is again raised the tray will not be carriedwith it.

l make the pocket K from a single piece, of paper-board or other suitable materiahby cutting a blank of the form shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and creasing it as shown by the dotted lines 1, 2, and 3. The lower edge a being turned under along the line 1, and the ends b bent inward and outward along the lines 2 and 3, as shown in Fig. loof the drawings, it is evident that a pocket will be formed if the blank thusrfolded is attached to the trunk along the folded edges a and the outer portion l or fold b.

The liap L is formed in a similar manner, from a single piece, one edge, c, being folded along the dotted line 4, and is attached by means of thefolded edge c inthe position desired. l

By this construction I am enabled to make a simple and cheap pocket, which can be manufactured by the quantity and sold as a separate article to trunk-makers.

The outside xtures may be made of malleable iron, and when in skeieton form, as de scribed and shown, are much more ornamental in appearance than the ordinary bands and corner-pieces. They are also much lighter7 and cost less to manufacture, While .at the saine time they are as stron g, or nearly so, as when made solid.

The advantages of the Weighted self-acting tray-hook are evident, as Well as those attending the manufacture of the pocket in one piece, as described. l

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

l. The metal guards or fixtures for trunks, made in skeleton forni, with central and side portions open or cut away, and of essentially the same thiekness throughout, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The Weighted seltacting catch or-hook I, pivoted to the trunk-top, in combination with a device on the hinged tray, With Which the hook engages when the tray is thrown up into the open top, and from Which it is disengaged automatically When the trunk is closed, substantialiy as and for the .purpose set forth.

3. The weighted self-acting hook I, pivoted to the trunktop, in Combination with the pin or projection H o i the hinged tray, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' CHARLES A. TAYLGR.

Witnesses L. A. BUNTING, W. C. GoRLms. 

